The
Fitz
Foundation
Honoring brief but beautiful lives by providing hope and relief to families navigating the heartbreak of infant loss.
Our Mission
Bring compassion and comfort to families facing the unimaginable loss of an infant. We are dedicated to honoring every life- no matter how brief- by finding ways to help families grieve with dignity and support. Through advocacy, community support and fundraising, we strive to be the light in the darkest moments, offering love, respect and hope in the face of profound loss.
How Your Support Helps Families
At the foundation’s inception, our mission is to provide meaningful assistance to families facing the unimaginable loss of a child.
Prioritizing Mental Health for Healing and Hope
We are prioritizing our initial focus on mental health. Grief counseling and therapy are essential for navigating the complex emotional journey after infant loss. A portion of donations will be allocated to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Adler Bereavement Program, ensuring parents receive the compassionate care they need. ​​
​
Learn more about this program and its support for parents who’ve lost a child by visiting:
Joanie and Tom Adler Bereavement Programs | University Hospitals | University Hospitals
Expanding Our Impact
We are continually exploring meaningful ways for The Fitz Foundation, and the generosity of our donors, to support families navigating the loss of an infant. Every family’s journey is unique, and our mission is to make a compassionate impact wherever it’s needed most. As we grow and strengthen our network of partner organizations, we welcome your input. If you know of a nonprofit doing important work in this space, we invite you to reach out and share your recommendation.
Our Story
We are the Feighan Family: Alex, Katy, John, and Fitz. As Fitz’s parents, we carry the weight of time that was never long enough. Forty-six hours, eighty photos, and countless moments holding his tiny hand through the side of his NICU incubator are the precious memories we hold from his brief beautiful life. Though our time with him was far too short, our love for him is endless and it is from that love that The Fitz Foundation was created.
​
The Fitz Foundation was born from love, and from loss. What began with our family’s heartbreak has grown into a mission of hope, one that stands for every parent who has carried a child’s memory in their heart longer than they could in their arms. Your world may feel like it stops after losing an infant and it can be hard to find the support and resources needed to keep moving forward. Our commitment is to help fill that gap for families walking this same path.
​
At the heart of our symbol is the shamrock, a timeless emblem of hope, faith, and love. One leaf remains unfilled, an outline gently tracing what is missing. This small absence speaks volumes: it represents the space grief leaves behind, the part of your heart that is forever remembered but no longer held. For us, it is Fitz’s leaf, and the reminder that even when a piece is missing, love remains whole.
​
Yet within that outline lives light, the promise that love endures, that remembrance can guide others through darkness. The Fitz Foundation exists to honor that light, transforming the love we have for Fitz into compassion, connection, and healing for families who have also lost their child too soon.
​
Our hearts will always hold an empty space until the day we’re reunited with Fitz. Until then, we will continue this work in his name, walking beside families who feel the same ache, and ensuring none of us have to face this journey alone.
Every dollar counts and, in some cases, you can make your gift go even further through your employer’s matching gift program. To learn about corporate matching, click the Give for Fitz tab located in the top-right corner of the website.